Site of Sugar Beet Factory

First Preference For Barrow Valley - Experts Reasons - Confident Of Success

The reasons why, although the site has not been definitely fixed on, first preference so far is for the Barrow Valley were explained by M. Schurmans. The Belgian firm’s expert said he was very optimistic as to the prospects of success of the project. He commented on the reluctance of the people to come forward and take shares in the undertaking, and said his firm did not wish the Irish people to say later that the Belgian firm came to take money out of the country. He prophesised the establishment of other such factories all over the country.

At the time that Athy was mentioned as the possible site, it was perfectly understood that although the prospecting company had visited and explored the potentialities of several counties, their final choice rested on the area in the neighbourhood of Carlow, and that Athy had been favourably considered. It transpires that, although no definite arrangement has been made as the site, it will be in the neighbourhood of Carlow, preferably in the Barrow Valley.

M.I.F. Schurmans, the adviser to Mr. Lappens, head of the Belgian firm, discussing the whole situation with an “Irish Independent” representative said that although no site had yet been definitely fixed on, their first preference up to the present was in the Barrow Valley.

Carlow Sugar Factory under construction in 1926. Photos Carlow County Museum, ccm 02-943. 944, 945, 946, 947.

Some Important Facts

“It is to our interests to get this 3,000 Irish acres guaranteed to get the factory started somewhere near us. Cork is making a great effort to get the factory because the Government had made an agreement with Messrs Lippens the big sugar people in Belgium, to start this factory, giving them a subsidy of, approximately, two million pounds in ten years on certain conditions, one of which is that in the next three years they will give the farmer for his beet, if it contains15 percent of sugar, a price £2.10 per ton for washed roots, and after that, for the seven years at least £2.10 per ton.

The Barrow Valley was one of the most ideal and suitable places for the factory in Ireland. Messrs Lippens had explored all the areas where it might be possible to start a factory and they were quite satisfied it might be somewhere in the vicinity of Athy or Carlow as the most suitable place for it. The only thing that was delaying their final decision was the giving of the guarantee for three years because they were satisfied that after that time the farmers would realise the value of the crop and that no further guarantee would be required.

Adapted extract from the Nationalist and Leinster Times, July 25th 1925.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sean Coffey, Armer Salmon and General Costello, Chief Executive of Irish Sugar at the fiftieth anniversary celebrations in Carlow in 1976. Many regard the General as the man who modernised the Sugar Industry from the late 1940’s. Photo Carlow County Museum/ Irish Sugar.